Louisiana EBT Cardholders Can Now Purchase Groceries Online
Louisiana EBT Cardholders Can Now Purchase Groceries Online
Published February 23, 2022
Louisiana – The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services announced that Louisiana households currently receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as Food Stamps, can now order groceries online at Walmart stores throughout Louisiana.
While Walmart is the first retailer to be approved through the US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service online purchasing program, DCFS officials anticipate that the program will quickly spread to other retailers.
Other program recipients who use EBT cards to make food purchases include Pandemic EBT (P-EBT), the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) or cash assistance, Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP), and Disaster-SNAP (DSNAP). Recipients can use their EBT cards to shop for and pay for eligible foods online. They can also arrange for delivery if it is available in their area, but they will have to pay for delivery services separately. Delivery fees and other associated charges are not covered by SNAP benefits.
“With this program, families who shop for groceries with EBT cards will now have access to many of the same conveniences and features we’ve come to take for granted,” Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters said. “For some of our recipients, shopping remotely could be life-changing. Many have limited transportation. Some have health concerns that make it safer to shop online.”
Recipients should visit retailer websites to learn more about their products and services. Some grocery stores have begun to allow SNAP recipients to shop online and arrange for pick-up and payment in-store. That option will remain available from retailers who provide it.
Before providing online purchasing services, all EBT retailers must be approved by the USDA FNS and meet federal online purchasing requirements. Not all USDA FNS-approved EBT retailers can accept EBT benefits online. Visit the USDA FNS online retailer webpage for more information on becoming a SNAP online retailer.
What does this mean for Louisianans?
In January 2022, 419,910 Louisiana households (858,731 people) were receiving SNAP benefits. During the same time period, 10,372 Louisiana households received cash assistance (FITAP) and 9,391 households received Kinship Care subsidies (KCSP). Due to the pandemic and four separate severe weather events in 2021, Louisiana issued EBT cards to approximately 1.7 million P-EBT and DSNAP recipients (1.5 million P-EBT recipients and 192,500 DSNAP recipients).
“Online purchasing helps ensure families have ready access to plentiful groceries with fresh produce. This can be an issue especially for families without adequate transportation, “ said DCFS Assistant Secretary of Family Support Shavana Howard. “Our research indicates that one in 10 households in Louisiana does not have access to a vehicle, and in many parts of the state residents live up to 10 miles or more from the nearest grocery store. “
EBT cardholders can manage their online grocery shopping using the LifeinCheck app on their smartphones. This unique feature allows recipients to check their balances and look for coupons.
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